Costa Rica recently received its first flight of deportees from the U.S., including children, as part of a new tactic in the Trump administration’s migration crackdown. The move follows prior deportation flights to Panama, and migrants expressed fears of persecution if returned home.

On Thursday evening, an aircraft from San Diego touched down in San José, the capital of Costa Rica, marking a significant event as it carried deportees from the United States. Among the passengers were numerous children, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of the migrants affected by U.S. immigration policies. This flight represented the first deportation of migrants from distant countries as part of the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to manage illegal border crossings.

The new immigration tactic involved deportations to Central America, as seen previously in the week when three flights were sent to Panama, carrying deportees from nations like China and Iran. These countries present challenges for deportation due to limited diplomatic ties, leading to complications in repatriation. In Panama, some migrants communicated their situations to reporters, expressing fears for their safety upon returning to their home countries due to possible persecution.

Upon arrival at Juan Santamaría International Airport, images of the deportees were captured by reporters on the tarmac. Notably, the migrants were observed without handcuffs and still in possession of their cellphones, indicating a less restrictive deportation procedure. This event has raised awareness regarding the conditions and concerns surrounding international deportation processes and the often precarious situations that migrants find themselves in.

Costa Rica’s recent receipt of its first flight of deportees from the United States underscores the ongoing complexities of international migration policies. As these deportations extend to distant countries, vulnerabilities persist for many migrants, particularly those fleeing persecution. The observations made during the flight’s arrival highlight varying conditions in the deportation process and raise significant human rights concerns regarding repatriation efforts.

Original Source: www.nytimes.com

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